TF Sport concluded a hugely positive pre-season tour of the European continent at Circuito do Estoril in Portugal yesterday (Monday 28 March).

The official Aston Martin Racing Partner Team has been preparing intensely for what will be its biggest campaign to date as full-time participants in the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup, International GT Open and British GT Championship.

Euan Hankey and Salih Yoluc have been clocking up countless meaningful miles over the course of eight days at some of Europe’s most hallowed race circuits and the driver pairing notably set the pace in an official International GT Open winter test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, before completing the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Series Prologue with the second fastest time.

The outcome has also been encouraging for TF Sport’s British GT contingent. Testing continues for reigning Champion Jonny Adam and Derek Johnston, as well as former British title-holder Jon Barnes and his co-driver Mark Farmer on 5-6 April, but the pairings were remarkably level when they partook in an exclusive Aston Martin Racing test in Valencia in late February.

TF Sport’s programme also encompassed a wet test at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France and it was there that Turkish gentleman racer, Yoluc, showed a demonstrable improvement in his speed and technique compared with this time last year, largely thanks to expert tutelage from Hankey.

A two-day test in Estoril (27-28 March) allowed TF Sport to assess Yoluc in different disciplines by conducting further race and qualifying simulations that account for many of the variables the team and its drivers might expect to encounter over the course of a season and there’s a good vibe about what can be achieved in 2016.

TF Sport Director, Tom Ferrier, said: “I’m left feeling very positive about TF Sport’s prospects for the 2016 season following a highly productive pre-season test programme. Salih (Yoluc) and Euan (Hankey) were fastest overall in almost every session during the International GT Open winter test in Barcelona and they looked very strong when we went on to Paul Ricard for the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup Prologue, where they were never out of the top two.

“A lot of our time has been focused on Salih and qualifying runs, but we have also done a little more setup work. It has been particularly important to get Salih used to running on cold tyres for the GT3 LM Cup, where you aren’t allowed to use tyre warmers; it’s definitely something that’s worth experiencing and I’m expecting the opening laps of the races to be pretty interesting with this rule!”

Ferrier added: “Ultimately, we know where we are with the tyres and we’ve reached the end of our European tour with this test in Estoril, at least until the racing season begins. We’re been very thorough by completing race and qualifying simulations of different lengths to ensure our drivers are prepared for every scenario and it has been relatively straightforward and incident-free. As a result, I’m raring to get the 2016 season underway!”